From the Bay of Islands to the Beehive

From the Bay of Islands to the Beehive

Government, both national and local, has a major impact on the lives of New Zealand citizens. It makes sense to learn how it all works so we can be informed and responsible voters. From the Bay of Islands to the Beehive: Government in Aotearoa New Zealand investigates what 'government' means in New Zealand, and why it is important to us. The book starts with a study of the history of government in New Zealand, including a history of Maori government, and a look at some of our notable prime ministers. You will find out about MMP, party politics, coalition governments and voting, study the differences between local and national government, and conclude by comparing different styles of government in other countries - democracies and otherwise. The teaching and learning is based on conceptual understanding and social inquiry.

Table of contents

Introduction -- Timeline of New Zealand's electoral system -- 1 What is government?-- 2 New Zealand government through history -- 3 Prime ministers who made their mark -- 4 New Zealand's voting system -- 5 How does our government work? -- 6 The Judiciary - the other brand of government -- 7 Local government in New Zealand -- 8 How does New Zealand compare?